Modern days Moors on the White Island

The Muslim community of Ibiza has a connection to the island and the larger community that few other migrant communities can claim. They are uniquely unaware of discriminatory sentiments and are appreciative of the open society in which they find themselves. It is unfortunate that these sentiments are not always mutual.

In the eighth century the Moors, originating from North Africa, conquered parts of the Iberian Peninsula, calling it Al Andalus, and occupied parts of the area for 800 years or so. Eight centuries is not a long time in the scheme of human history but it was long enough for the Moors to leave behind an indelible mark before being driven out. Moorish, Islamic and Arabic influences can be seen in Spanish architecture, language, cuisine and art. The two cultures share an intimate history which continues to this day.

According to a census taken in 2008 there are approximately 25,000 practising Muslims living in the Balearic Islands. The majority originate from Morocco followed by West Africa and a few from the Middle East. There are just over 5000 living in Ibiza and it is a lively and dynamic community.

If you find yourself regularly strolling the streets of Santa Eulalia then you will no doubt have come across Saladi Costa Schreiner. He is hard to miss. Tall, with a long grey beard, wire frame glasses, long robes in muted greens and browns and skull cap, Saladi occupies a special place in the Muslim community. By day he works for the Santa Eulalia council as a Mediador Intercultural, the equivalent of a link worker in Britain, the rest of his time is spent being the father of four children, the President of the local Muslim community of Santa Eulalia, the Spokesman of the Regional Balearic Federation of Muslim Communities and the proprietor of a recently opened Moroccan restaurant in Calle Historiador Clapes, Santa Eulalia. He is a busy and determined man.

Moroccan food stall Santa Eulalia market

Born to an Ibicenco father and German mother, Saladi spent his formative years studying in Germany where he mastered German, Arabic and French to go with his already fluent Ibicenco and Castilian. Like many young men Saladi spent a lot of his youth looking for answers. He tried Zen Buddhism, the counter culture, psychotherapy and Christianity until one day in London he had a spiritual awakening and found Sufism. A mystical branch of Islam, Sufism attempts to seek wisdom and God through love, devotion and selflessness. Saladi describes it as a living tradition, Islam being the shell and Sufism the pearl.

Claiming Ibiza’s long history of acceptance and tolerance of others as one of the reasons the community is thriving Saladi emphatically states that ‘the Ibicencos are special’. He continues that the Imams of Ibiza are moderate, highly respected and pious. They teach common sense and mainstream Islam and that there is no contradiction between the truth of Islam and living under democratic rule; fanaticism is inviolable. The same is not said of the Muslim community in Mallorca which is rumoured to be plagued by political infighting and narrow mindedness.

Our interview is interrupted momentarily when Saladi jumps out of his chair to greet the Bishop of Ibiza who has been giving a talk in the adjacent room. A strong mutual respect is apparent as they greet each other heartily. Saladi feels that all believers must join together to ‘make publicity for faith’ because ‘faith is connected to the most beautiful things like love and peace and understanding, forgiveness and compassion, our society urgently needs these beautiful gifts’ regardless of the brand. Even so, clearly a man of action, he finds his enthusiasm is often dampened by what he perceives as a passive position by the Catholic Church and their lack of vision, he would like to see more initiatives between Catholicism and Islam in Ibiza.

Diki Kahmmal Abdehak came to Ibiza over thirty years ago from Morocco. For nine years he has been the Treasurer and Spokesperson for the Muslim community of Ibiza Town. When we meet he is in the middle of organising the inaugural conference of the Union of Islamic Communities of the Balearics. A one day event open to all and titled ‘Islam: The Vanguard of Integration’. The conference includes talks from imminent Spanish and German scholars, the president of the Union of Islamic Communities of Spain, local politicians and authorties.

Left to right Fatima, Malika and Amina meet almost daily

The talks cover such diverse topics as Women in Islam, the Duties and Rights of the Immigrant and the Future Challenges of the Next Generation. It’s the first event of its kind in Ibiza and has attracted interest far and wide; people are travelling from Mallorca and various points in Europe to attend. Like Saladi, Diki cites Ibiza’s history of openness as one of the reasons the Muslim community is so successful here. ‘Ibiza is international’ and for that reason there has always had respect for those from other parts. Like many I speak to he has trouble thinking of any incidents of racial tension or discrimination against the community. He admits that of course there is intolerance but it’s not noticed as much as in other parts of Europe.

However, it is not just Ibiza’s history as an open society that has created this atmosphere of tolerance. The Balearic government has described the Muslim community of Ibiza as a ‘model community’ and an example to all other migrant communities. It is evident that the Muslim community here is extremely active and proud of their ties to the island. There seems to be constant activity, meetings, events, fund raisers, there is after school Arabic classes among many other initiatives all of which are subsidised by the community and a small grant of a few thousand euros a year from the national government.

The Muslim community of Ibiza were recently the first in Europe to organise a mass donation of blood to the local Blood Bank. More then 200 Muslims showed up to the mosque at Puig de Molins which had been specially fitted out for the occasion. A representative from the Blood Bank said that they obtained four times more blood then on a normal donation day. Diki reiterates that practising Muslims are pacifists, that the laws of Islam promote giving and that it is the actions of a few fanatics that has tarred the reputation of Muslims worldwide.

After dinner mint tea ritual

Diki also spends his time on the long term project of building a new mosque to accommodate the growing community. Land has been found land near Can Fita and the project will include a library, conference centre, Arabic language school and gardens. Through personal contributions and fund raising events the community so far has managed to raise 170,000 euros of the 300,000 required to purchase the land. Funds will also be needed for design and materials, the labour being made up of volunteers. The esteemed Canadian architect Rolf Blakstad will design the complex. He is well known in architectural circles as an expert in Moorish and Ibicencan architecture and also happens to be a resident of the island.

Almost every day in a cafe on Isidor Macabich in Ibiza Town a group of women congregate to gossip and drink coffee. On the day that I join them there is an air of excitement. It has been two days since the conference and the community is in high spirits. Expecting around 400 people to show up the organisers were surprised to count 900 participants on the day. Nine women cooked 200 hundred chickens, 200 kilos of beef and five whole lambs for the hungry mass not to mention the gallons of mint tea and tonnes of sweets. Diki personally purchased the 600 loaves of bread required for the luncheon. Plans for the next conference are already underway.

Today the women are joined by Ivone Puig, a PhD student from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Ivone is writing her thesis on the Muslim community of Ibiza and has been coming to the island on study trips for the last three years. She is not herself a Muslim. It is clear she has formed close relationships with the women and says there is a solidarity amongst them that she has not seen in many other communities. Although the women protest, insisting that they and their community are like any other. It is a theme that they return to often, as if to establish that their lives fall in the spectrum of what is considered normal.

They are keen to separate themselves from the common image of an Islamic woman; that of a woman at the mercy of her male relatives, forbidden to work, study and to live a free life. The women agree that this image has stemmed from hard line Muslim countries in the Middle East, where faith has been politicised. There is no doubt that women in strict Islamic countries are oppressed but the Muslim women of Ibiza say that slowly Muslim societies around the world are changing and it’s the women who are facilitating and benefiting from those changes.

When it comes to love once again the women insist that the process is like in any other community. Although, Ivone begs to differ, she intimates that finding love for Ibizan Muslims is a little more chaste and traditional although there are no arranged marriages. She says that the women remind her of ‘the Spanish women of the 1950s’. There has been much intermarriage and when asked if these unions are tolerated the answer is a unilateral shrug of the shoulders, it depends on the family, some are more tolerant then others. One of the women, Hafida, has a female relative who converted for marriage and has become ‘more Muslim than anyone else in the family’. Other women have married outside the faith and lost the strength of their beliefs when faced with the wills of their new families, other families seem not to mind.

The concern in mixed marriages is when children are raised with little knowledge of their heritage. Another woman, Karima, tells of how she has raised her children, chooses not to wear a veil, has a job of which she is very proud and supports herself and her family as any other modern woman might, the message is that she is in control of her own life and not answerable to her husband or any other male relative.

Ivone thinks that the support the women show each other is entirely different to other communities. She cites several examples; when someone is in hospital every single household visits and takes food for the patient, when there is a naming ceremony, some other festivity or a death each woman contributes in some way, if someone has a sick relative in Morocco each household gives what they are able. Ivone says she sees values that have been lost to a large part of modern society and that she, personally, has never witnessed such a strong sense of communal obligation.

The comments on the El Diario web page following articles about the conference and the new mosque show that not all islanders follow the Ibizan tradition of acceptance and openness or appreciate the historical connection with Islam and its importance to Spain.

But just as moderate Muslims maintain that fanaticism is the provenance of the few and tolerance the provenance of the many, Ibiza, as usual, will generally open its arms to those who are seen to lead good and fruitful lives as part of the larger community.

16 Responses to “Islam and Ibiza – Tolerance”

Islam is always presented as peaceful and harmless when new to a population. This is all part of the big plan of Islamisation and eventual Sharia Law where there is no tollerance and everyone lives under the rule of Islam. During the rule of the Moors, Islam was the law and all non-muslims were deemed second class citizens paying tax to their muslims superiors. It’s aparthied dressed up as a religion. It’s also a political apartheid and not just a religion….it covers every apsect of life and therefore should not be called a religion but a Life Code.

Ibiza is the most liberal place on earth. The people are here because of liberalism, freedom, equality of the sexes, the rule of law, freedom of speech and freedom of expression and NOT because of this mono-culture. It’s time us liberals spoke the truth and said it as it is….that we like the way we are, we know muslims do not like the way we are and we will not allow our sacred ground to become like all other muslim hell holes in the world.

Google ‘Faith Freedom’ and ‘Ali Sina’ muslimas and do the best thing you can and leave Islam.

What she should have said was, ‘I disapprove of what you believe in, but I will defend to my death your right to say it.’ if she were to be truly in line with what leftwingers think. It’s called ‘not knowing what’s good for you’ and refusing to ‘not know what’s good for you’ because that would involved being honest with yourself and others….perish the thought in this fake place!

I did not miss your point at all. I have heard it many times. In fact, if I printed all the times off I could wallpaper my bog with it. Voltaire is a favourite of leftists as he was an anti-semite believing “They are, all of them, born with raging fanaticism in their hearts, just as the Bretons and the Germans are born with blond hair. I would not be in the least bit surprised if these people would not some day become deadly to the human race.” Leftists love anti-semites and love Islam for some unbeknown reason. Madness considering Islam hates what the left stands for. Such is life….people never truly know who their friends are, often making grave errors of judgement. Judgement day will come though and the lefties will suffer the most and cry the loudest.

Muslims do not need to wield swords to be detrimental to us. Their claims of non-violence do not gaurantee that we will be forever as we are. Most Islamists will be non-violent. Wars are won by the pen and the mind too.

Signs of Islamification in Ibiza……white flight from new muslims areas as Spaniards sell up and move out, leaving whole neighbourhoods entirely muslim. This happens all over the world creating muslim ghettos where Western influence is eradicated and Islam prevails. The building of mosques……..politicising. Islam is as political and it is religious. Mosques are not the same as churches. They are a church, parliament, school, court and social centre in one. Should we be happy that a new parliament, and parallel system, is being constructed in liberal Ibiza? Learning Arabic. Why? What do they need that for if they truly want to integrate? The truth is they do not want t integrate and learning Arabic should spell that out to even the dimmest of dhimmies. Wearing the burka…..ALL OF THE WOMEN. Come on! Think!

Mohammad was an Islamist and everything Mohammad did, including murdering, lying, stealing, raping, pillaging, terrorising, threatening and pirating…..is permited in Islam….anything he did they can do. In fact, his is the epitamy of the perfect muslim and the man all muslims must emulate. If you want to know about Islam, learn about Mohammad’s life.

Mohammad, like most Islamists, was also a narcissist…. below article written by Ali Sina, an apostate of Islam who works incognito due to death threats from muslims (there is no freedom of religion, freedom of thought or freedom of expression in Islam)…

Understanding Mohammad

Since September 11, 2001, there have been over 11,000 terrorist attacks, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians and a lot more injuries, throughout the world. The perpetrators of these attacks were not monsters; they were Muslims. They were pious people who believed and acted in accordance with their faith. There are millions more who think like them and are ready to do the same.

If you think Islamic terrorism is a new phenomenon, think again. Islam owes its success to terrorism. The prophet of Islam boasted, “I have been made victorious with terror”. [Bukhari: 4.52. 220] Since the day Muhammad set foot in Medina, he started his campaign of terror. His followers have been doing the same ever since.

Muslims are intolerant, supremacist, bullies, and violent. They are highly inflammable and can explode if they are not treated preferentially and with respect. At the same time, they abuse others and violate the rights of people of other faiths.

To understand Muslims, one must understand their prophet. Muslims worship and emulate Muhammad. Islam is Muhammadanism. Only by understanding him can we know what makes them tick.

It’s said that we must know our enemy in order to defeat him. Muslims are not our enemy, nor are the terrorists among them. The enemy is the religion that they have embraced. It’s only under the influence of Islam that they are transformed into beasts.

I have predicted that Islam will fall within our lifetime. This won’t happen by itself. But it will happen once the truth is spread. This religion will be eradicated when everyone comes to know Muhammad and his sick mind.

I do not claim to have a superior knowledge of Islam. There are many Muslim scholars who know the Quran and the hadith by heart, who know everything about the Sharia, its various schools of jurisprudence and its history a lot better than me. But I claim to understand Muhammad better than most people and certainly better than all the Muslims. I say this with conviction that once the world comes to see the truth about Muhammad and understands him, Islam will become history and world peace will become a possibility.

The hallmark of a seminal work is that it crystallizes into a single, overpowering coherence its reader’s dark suspicions, ephemeral unease, and penumbral stirrings. Understanding Muhammad introduces an organizing principle into what hitherto appeared to be utter mayhem and lethal chaos. Ali Sina’s book offers an explanatory scheme. One “a-ha” moment chases another as things fall into place and a causative chain emerges leading all the way from medieval founder to his current day followers and emulators. This blood-curdling tome is a sweeping, thought-provoking, and thrilling historical panorama that weaves seamlessly insights from numerous disciplines: history, mental health, theology, and more. A Bold and Daring Masterpiece! [Dr. Sam Vaknin author of “Malignant Self-love: Narcissism Revisited”]

Thank you for joining. Please invite others, particularly Muslims to join too. Understanding Muhammad is imperative for our survival. Islam poses the biggest threat to the peace of the world, to our lives and to our civilization, and nothing can defeat it except understanding it. Knowledge is power. With knowledge we can destroy Islam.

Let Muslims come and defend their faith. Let the dialogue begin. Truth will be known when opposing ideas clash. Through my site http://www.faithfreedom.org I have helped thousands of Muslims leave Islam. All we have to do is spread this knowledge and millions will leave. Faithfreedom.org is banned in most Islamic countries. I hope through this medium we can reach many Muslims who otherwise are kept in the dark. Only truth will set us free. Let the truth out.

………………………

As an unbiased journalist, as I’m sure you are, you will be eager to express the other side of the coin of Islam won’t you? Do you dare?

There are literally tens of thousands of short stories about Muhammad. Many of them are forgeries, others are weak and dubious in nature, but some are believed to be Sahih (authentic, true) hadith (oral traditions). By reading these Sahih hadith, a fairly consistent picture of Muhammad emerges and it is possible to make an approximate evaluation of his character and psychological make-up.

The picture that emerges is that of a narcissist. In this chapter I will quote authoritative sources on narcissism and then will try to show how Muhammad fits that profile hand in glove.

Scholarship and research on the matter is limited precisely because Muslims have not and will not permit objective inquiry into the Qur’an or the life of Muhammad. However, what is written about him is not only consistent with the definition of narcissism, but also can be seen in many similar bizarre acts being committed today by Muslims themselves the world over. Thus, the personality disorder of one man has been bequeathed like an inheritance upon his followers, where one man’s psychosis, spectacular in its depth of self-absorption, has been spreading to millions of his followers, rendering them, in the same way, self-absorbed, irrational, and dangerous.

It is through understanding the psychology of Muhammad, the ruthlessness and situational ethics so essential to his character, that we begin to understand why Muslims are so intolerant, so violent, so paranoid, and why they see themselves as victims, when they are the aggressors and the victimizers.

What is Narcissism?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) describes narcissism as a personality disorder that “revolve around a pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and sense of entitlement. Often individuals feel overly important and will exaggerate achievements and will accept, and often demand, praise and admiration despite worthy achievements.”

The third and fourth editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of 1980 and 1994 and the European ICD-10 describe NPD in similar language:

An all-pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration or adulation and lack of empathy, usually beginning by early adulthood and present in various contexts. Five (or more) of the following criteria must be met:

Feels grandiose and self-important (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents to the point of lying, demands to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
Is obsessed with fantasies of unlimited success, fame, fearsome power or omnipotence, unequalled brilliance (the cerebral narcissist), bodily beauty or sexual performance (the somatic narcissist), or ideal, everlasting, all-conquering love or passion
Is firmly convinced that he or she is unique and, being special, can only be understood by, should only be treated by, or associate with, other special, unique, or high-status people (or institutions)
Requires excessive admiration, adulation, attention and affirmation, or failing that, wishes to be feared and notorious (narcissistic supply)
Feels entitled. Expects unreasonable or special and favorable priority treatment. Demands automatic and full compliance with his or her expectations
Is “interpersonally exploitative” i.e., uses others to achieve his or her own ends
Is devoid of empathy. Is unable or unwilling to identify with or acknowledge the feelings and needs of others
Is constantly envious of others or believes that they feel the same about him or her
Is arrogant, has haughty behaviors or attitudes coupled with rage when frustrated, contradicted, or confronted.

All these traits were confirmed in Muhammad. Apart from thinking he was the anointed messenger of God and the Seal of the Prophets (Q.33:40), Muhammad regarded himself as Khayru-l-Khalq (the Best of Creation), an “excellent example” (Q.33:21), and explicitly or implicitly hinted to be “exalted above other prophets in degrees” (Q.2:253). He claimed to be “the preferred one” (Q.17:55), to have been sent as a “Mercy to the worlds” (Q.21:107), to have been risen “to a praised estate” (Q.17:79) – a station which he said none but he would receive – and this is the Station of Intercession at the right hand of the Almighty next to his Glorious Throne. In other words, he would be the person who would advise God as to who should be sent to Hell and who should be admitted to Heaven. These are just some of Muhammad’s megalomaniac claims about his own lofty station that are reported in the Qur’an.
The following two verses express vividly Muhammad’s sense of self importance and grandiosity.

Truly, Allâh and His angels send praise and blessings [forever] upon the Prophet. O you who believe! Praise and bless the Prophet with utmost laud and blessing. (Q.33:56)

In order that you (O men) may believe in Allâh and His Messenger, that you may assist and honor Him, and celebrate His praise morning and evening. (Q.48:9)

Muhammad was so impressed with himself, that he put the following words in the mouth of his sock puppet deity:

“And you (stand) on an exalted standard of character” (Q.68:4) and are “a lamp with spreading light.” (Q.33:46)

Ibn Sa’d reports Muhammad saying:

Among all the people of the world God chose the Arabs. From among the Arabs he chose the Qinana. From Qinana he chose the Quraish (the tribe of Muhammad). From the Quraish he chose Bani Hashim (his clan). And from Bani Hashim he chose me.

The following are some of the claims Muhammad made about himself in the hadith.

• The very first thing that Allâh Almighty ever created was my soul.
• First of all things, the Lord created my mind.
• I am from Allâh, and the believers are from me.
• Just as Allâh created me noble, he also gave me noble character.
• Were it not for you, [O Muhammad] I would not have created the universe.
•

Compare that to the words of Jesus, who when someone called him “good master,” objected and said, “Why do you call me good? No one is good—except God alone.” Only a pathological narcissist can be so cut off from reality as to claim the universe was created because of him.

Narcissists, typically feign humility even when they brag about themselves. Abu Sa`id al-Khudri narrated that the Prophet said: “I am the leader of human beings and I say this without pride.”

At-Tirmidhi narrated:
“The Prophet said: I heard your words, and everything you said is indeed true, and I myself am the Beloved of Allâh (habibullah) and I say this without pride, and I carry the flag of glory (liwa ul-hamd) on the Day of Judgment, and am the first intercessor and the first whose intercession is accepted, and the first to stir the circles of Paradise so that Allâh will open it for me and I shall enter it together with the poor among my Community, and I say this without pride. I am the most honored of the First and the Last, and I say this without pride.”

A narcissist may seem to be self-confident and even accomplished. In reality he (pathological narcissists are predominantly male) or she suffers from a great deficit of self-esteem and needs an outside supply of adulation, constantly seeking dmiration.

Dr. Sam Vaknin is the author of Malignant Self-Love. He is regarded as an authority on the subject. He understands and describes the mind of the narcissist like few do. Vaknin explains:

Everyone is a narcissist, to varying degrees. Narcissism is a healthy phenomenon. It helps survival. The difference between healthy and pathological narcissism is, indeed, in measure. Pathological narcissism… is characterized by extreme lack of empathy. The narcissist regards and treats other people as objects to be exploited. He uses them to obtain narcissistic supply. He believes that he is entitled to special treatment because he harbors these grandiose fantasies about himself. The narcissist is NOT self-aware. His cognition and emotions are distorted… The narcissist lies to himself and to others, projecting ‘untouchability,’ emotional immunity and invincibility… For a narcissist everything is bigger than life. If he is polite, then he is aggressively so. His promises are outlandish, his criticism violent and ominous, his generosity inane. … The narcissist is a master of disguise. He is a charmer, a talented actor, a magician and a director of both himself and his milieu. It is very difficult to expose him as such in the first encounter.

The Cult of the Narcissist

The narcissist needs admirers. He draws an imaginary circle around himself, where he is the center. He gathers his fans and followers in that circle, rewards them and encourages their sycophantism. Those who fall outside the circle are viewed as his enemies. Vaknin explains:

The narcissist is the guru at the centre of a cult. Like other gurus, he demands complete obedience from his flock: his spouse, his offspring, other family members, friends, and colleagues. He feels entitled to adulation and special treatment by his followers. He punishes the wayward and the straying lambs. He enforces discipline, adherence to his teachings, and common goals. The less accomplished he is in reality – the more stringent his mastery and the more pervasive the brainwashing…

The narcissist’s control is based on ambiguity, unpredictability, fuzziness, and ambient abuse. His ever-shifting whims exclusively define right versus wrong, desirable and unwanted, what is to be pursued and what to be avoided. He alone determines the rights and obligations of his disciples and alters them at will.

The narcissist is a micro-manager. He exerts control over the minutest details and behaviors. He punishes severely and abuses withholders of information and those who fail to conform to his wishes and goals.

The narcissist does not respect the boundaries and privacy of his reluctant adherents. He ignores their wishes and treats them as objects or instruments of gratification. He seeks to control both situations and people compulsively.

He strongly disapproves of others’ personal autonomy and independence. Even innocuous activities, such as meeting a friend or visiting one’s family require his permission. Gradually, he isolates his nearest and dearest until they are fully dependent on him emotionally, sexually, financially, and socially.

He acts in a patronising and condescending manner and criticizes often. He alternates between emphasizing the minutest faults (devalues) and exaggerating the talents, traits, and skills (idealizes) of the members of his cult. He is wildly unrealistic in his expectations, which legitimizes his subsequent abusive conduct…

Muhammad invented a big lie that his adherents believe to be the absolute truth. The danger is that they, like the believers of Hitler’s lies, are willing participants.

In the previous chapter, where we read the introduction to Muhammad, we saw how he separated his followers from their families and the level of control he exerted over their private lives. Sadly the situation has not changed much after 1,400 years. I have received many heartbreaking stories from parents who told me their daughter or son converted to Islam and is now surrounded by Muslims who have persuaded them not to visit their parents.

i chose to think about moderating the sudden number of comments by one person – you were obviously in email corresposdance with that person – else why would you know about comments that were supposedly deleted ? – they were never published – every single newspaper, blog, publication reserves the right to publish – as i’ve subsequently said to you – fine you want the world to see intolerance – -ive approved the comments made by christiang

We choose to reply with the following and this conversation should be closed (see final sentance & caveat though):

We’re not prepared to have numerous continuing diatribes from you (christiang) about your intolerance to a religion that you dont subscribe to – we have no opinion either way on islam, christianity etc etc – if people want to practise those religions its up to them – its NOT our place to argue whether they are valid or not we simply report on what is happening in reality

You made your point in the first 2 comments – which i said you have the right to say – yet you continued to bombard the comments with biased polemic

The whole point of the piece written by Danni was to give an “unbiased” view of the muslim “community” here in “Ibiza” – I’m sorry you fail to see that. I suggest you use other forums to continue any discussion on whatever it is you believe.

However if you want to continue to drive internet traffic and hits to this blog – feel free :)

Despite the very nasty and bizarre comments made by someone on this page I found reading this very interesting as I am a white muslim living in the UK and planning to move to Ibiza in the future. I have only recently converted and am part of a strong and caring muslim family group. I was worried about how my faith would be continued in Ibiza and whether there was such a strong muslim community. It appears there is and this has really put my mind at rest.

I do not wish to get involved with any political rangling as I feel “those who shout the most often have the least to say” and normally a huge lack in understanding. My family is Christian and I have always grown up in that faith and respect my mother’s beliefs very much. My Muslim family and Christian family are very tolerant and supportive of each others beliefs as at the end of the day we all worship the same God. I am the only muslim within my group of friends and they are also very tolerant and respectful of my faith and the beliefs that I follow, as I am of theirs. As long as there are multiple faiths in this world there will always be the debate of who is right or wrong, only Allah knows the truth and all we can do is spend our time on this earth as good human beings, believing that we personally have made the best choice for ourselves.

I am sure after reading your post that I will continue to find the tolerance and respect for my faith in Ibiza as I do here in the UK, so I would like to thank you very much for that.

I have read all with great interest. Although verily knowledge does not seem to make most people knowledgeable apperently. We can analyse life and its phenomens but it is the heart with lies at the essence of all understanding, without our heart we cannot feel and its the end of the story. I myself feel blessed to be a dillitantist at all levels of life and I rather not claim to know any answers at all. I rather enjoy the beauty and harmony of all that is all ready here. I suppose to many people are under the spell of the computer and its possibilities. I would suggest go and have a walk..the best techinique for anti depression. I taste on this blog very one sided development of human capacity. Another thing about the acclaimed spokesman of christianity here is that he forgets we can surely make a list of Jezus narcist ways or those of Buddha or Abraham aswell just as Muhammed’s. trying to force intellectual mind blogging info has little to do with have a taste for wisdom. Any how we are and were once all created so maybe you should sms god on the reason why he created certain individuals and you may get an aswer. War yes , in the sword or by the pen, is jsut war and does not ever lead to peace. Also dividing and analysing will never lead to union. My personal sense is All is one and one is all in the end of the day, and life is just one big day anyway..respect and curiosity to our surroundings and people is a better recept leading to love for our fellow man.
Next to that dont forget the Koran was wrtitten well over 25 years afther his death, so I rather believe it is the believers themselves making a god out of a person, why you think profets come and go? because man on earth seems to need to exalt certain to lead them out of the dark. Also the bible is a nice example of a major power trip aswell as the whole history of bloodshet on there account cant be dennied..i would like to refer aswell to the essays of Sant Frances of Assisi, an enlightened man, who was also very intersted in the chrsitian-islam topic and went on his horse from Italy to Morocco to discuss and see for himself. He shed a very clear light on this, maybe check the internet or your nearest bookshop on these publications.